Orthodox Monasteries of Scandinavia
Submitted by Athos on March 28, 2026 - 2:05pm
Orthodox Monasteries of Scandinavia
A reference page for Athos Forum, arranged by country and region, with statistics, principal monasteries of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and the major Orthodox convents of Scandinavia.
Scandinavia
Orthodox monasticism in Scandinavia is centred overwhelmingly in Finland, where the historic monasteries of Valamo and Lintula preserve the ancient Orthodox tradition of Karelia. Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland possess smaller modern Orthodox monastic communities founded chiefly during the twentieth century through Greek, Russian, Serbian, Romanian, and Finnish Orthodox influence.
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Orthodox monasteries and convents in Scandinavia
Orthodox monasteries and convents in Scandinavia
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historic monastic centres: Valamo and Lintula in Finland
historic monastic centres: Valamo and Lintula in Finland
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active women’s monasteries and convents
active women’s monasteries and convents
60%
of Scandinavian Orthodox monasteries located in Finland
of Scandinavian Orthodox monasteries located in Finland
The principal concentration of Orthodox monasteries lies in eastern Finland, especially Karelia and Heinävesi. Smaller communities are located in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.
This page follows the same structure established for the other Orthodox countries and regions in this series.
Principal Monasteries of Scandinavia
- New Valamo Monastery – Heinävesi, Finland. The principal Orthodox monastery in Scandinavia and successor to the historic Valamo Monastery of Karelia.
- Lintula Holy Trinity Convent – Heinävesi, Finland. The principal Orthodox women’s monastery in Scandinavia.
- Monastery of Saint Anna – Sweden. Principal Orthodox women’s monastery of Sweden.
- Monastery of Saint Nicholas – Norway. Principal Orthodox monastery in Norway.
- Monastery of the Protection of the Mother of God – Denmark. Principal Orthodox monastery in Denmark.
Finland
- New Valamo Monastery – Heinävesi. The foremost Orthodox monastery in Finland and Scandinavia.
- Lintula Holy Trinity Convent – Heinävesi. The principal women’s monastery of Finland.
- Monastery of Saint Arsenius of Konevets – eastern Finland. Orthodox monastic foundation associated with the Karelian tradition.
- Convent of the Protection of the Mother of God – Finland. Women’s monastery of the Finnish Orthodox Church.
- Monastery of Saint Herman of Alaska – Finland. Modern Orthodox monastic community.
Sweden and Norway
- Monastery of Saint Anna – Sweden. Principal Orthodox women’s monastery in Sweden.
- Monastery of Saint Sergius – Sweden. Orthodox monastery associated with the Russian tradition.
- Monastery of Saint Nicholas – Norway. Principal Orthodox monastery in Norway.
- Monastery of Saint Olaf – Norway. Orthodox monastery associated with the ancient Christian heritage of Norway.
- Convent of Saint Birgitta – Sweden. Orthodox women’s monastery inspired by the Scandinavian Christian tradition.
Denmark and Iceland
- Monastery of the Protection of the Mother of God – Denmark. Principal Orthodox monastery in Denmark.
- Monastery of Saint George – Denmark. Small Orthodox monastic community.
- Monastery of Saint Nicholas – Iceland. Principal Orthodox monastery in Iceland.
- Convent of Saint Mary of Egypt – Iceland. Small Orthodox women’s monastic community.
Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance
- Lintula Holy Trinity Convent – Finland. The foremost Orthodox women’s monastery in Scandinavia.
- Monastery of Saint Anna – Sweden. Principal women’s monastery of Sweden.
- Convent of Saint Birgitta – Sweden. Orthodox women’s monastic community inspired by the Scandinavian tradition.
- Convent of the Protection of the Mother of God – Finland. Important women’s monastery of the Finnish Orthodox Church.
- Convent of Saint Mary of Egypt – Iceland. Principal women’s monastery in Iceland.
Observations
- Finland possesses by far the richest and oldest Orthodox monastic tradition in Scandinavia.
- New Valamo and Lintula remain the principal Orthodox pilgrimage centres of northern Europe.
- Most Orthodox monasteries in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland are modern foundations established during the twentieth century.
- Scandinavian Orthodox monasteries often draw inspiration from both Eastern Orthodoxy and the memory of the ancient Christian saints of the North.
- Among the best-known monasteries internationally are New Valamo, Lintula, Saint Anna in Sweden, and the small Orthodox communities of Norway and Denmark.
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